Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Nuwara Eliya Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Nuwara Eliya

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 31.2% more expensive than Nuwara Eliya without rent, and 63.8% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 0.9% cheaper than Nuwara Eliya without rent, and 52.3% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.02 ฿65.3

$4.08 LKR 1,218

-50.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.78 ฿608

$24.91 LKR 7,444

-24.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.67 ฿248

$8.55 LKR 2,554

-10.29%

Cappuccino

$1.98 ฿64.2

$2.72 LKR 811

-27.21%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 ฿26.64

$0.73 LKR 219

12.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿10.58

$0.41 LKR 121

-19.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.12 ฿68.6

$2.28 LKR 681

-7.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿121

$3.34 LKR 997

11.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.2

$1.69 LKR 505

-2.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿50.9

$0.56 LKR 167

180.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.62

$0.81 LKR 242

46.91%

Eggs

$1.98 ฿64.1

$2.23 LKR 666

-11.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.99 ฿517

$14.18 LKR 4,237

12.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿101

$4.56 LKR 1,362

-31.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.16 ฿361

$8.21 LKR 2,453

35.93%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿89.2

$7.56 LKR 2,258

-63.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.5

$1.08 LKR 323

12.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿55.4

$5.72 LKR 1,709

-70.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.2

$1.21 LKR 362

28.10%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.21

$1.1 LKR 330

21.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.23

$1.4 LKR 419

-13.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.2

$1.19 LKR 357

-39.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.05

$0.55 LKR 165

-3.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.72 ฿153

$10.02 LKR 2,993

-52.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.39 ฿595

$14.19 LKR 4,239

29.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿57.9

$2.03 LKR 607

-11.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ฿104

$2.98 LKR 890

7.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿30.44

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.9 ฿612

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 ฿46.08

$0.41 LKR 124

246.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿43.53

$0.36 LKR 106

275.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.85 ฿254

$0.6 LKR 179

1208.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ฿40.4

$1.26 LKR 376

-0.79%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.2K ฿684.9K

$26.8K LKR 8M

-21.16%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$21.8K ฿706.8K

$34.2K LKR 10.2M

-36.21%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$70.6 ฿2,285

$60.1 LKR 18K

17.45%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.72 ฿444

$4.25 LKR 1,269

222.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.56 ฿568

$15.13 LKR 4,520

16.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.64 ฿1,347

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.9 ฿223

Cinema Ticket

$5.8 ฿188

$3.29 LKR 984

76.29%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$308 ฿9,963

$37.32 LKR 11.2K

724.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿475.8K

$443 LKR 132.3K

3220.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 ฿1,793

$27.16 LKR 8,117

103.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.4 ฿854

$19.23 LKR 5,746

37.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 ฿2,755

$68.2 LKR 20.4K

24.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.8 ฿2,323

$39.18 LKR 11.7K

83.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$434 ฿14K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$235 ฿7,610

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$821 ฿26.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿16.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,180 ฿70.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,543 ฿49.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$703 ฿22.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.45

-69.60%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Nuwara Eliya: October 27, 2025

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